Earth Science News
FROTH AND BUBBLE
Russian invasion toll on environment $71 billion, Ukraine says
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Russian invasion toll on environment $71 billion, Ukraine says
by AFP Staff Writers
Baku (AFP) Nov 19, 2024

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused $71 billion in environmental damage and led to a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, the Ukrainian government told the COP29 summit in Baku.

"Nature during this war is like a silent victim," said Svitlana Grynchuk, Ukraine's minister of environmental protection and natural resources.

The climate impact, especially through destruction of forests that naturally balance carbon emissions, shows that the consequences of the war are "not just for Ukraine, but for the global community," she told reporters.

Grynchuk said the Ukrainian government estimated that the war has cost $71 billion in environmental damage and led to the equivalent of some 180 million tons of carbon emissions.

The UN Development Programme a year ago had put environmental damage from the war at $56 billion.

In the latest Ukrainian estimation, military activities themselves have caused 51.6 million tons of carbon emissions since Russia's invasion in February 2022, with another 56 million tied to needs to restore infrastructure after the war.

Among other top contributors, fires were blamed for 27.2 million in carbon emission equivalent.

Grynchuk said that the invasion has damaged three million hectares (11,500 square miles) of forest, which she noted was larger than many countries' entire forested area.

Her remarks come as Russia decimates energy facilities in new aerial bombardments across Ukraine, plunging millions into darkness.

Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks as they anticipate a shift in the crucial US support for Kyiv once Donald Trump returns to the White House in two months.

Grynchuk said that Ukraine was cognisant of climate as it rebuilds, with small-scale renewable energy projects seen as more sustainable in the face of the threat from Russia.

"All Ukrainians during a very short period of time have become very energy-efficient," she said.

Ukraine, which aspires to enter the European Union, has committed to a bloc-wide goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Related Links
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FROTH AND BUBBLE
Illegal farm fires fuel Indian capital's smog misery
New Delhi (AFP) Nov 19, 2024
The illegal burning of farm fields in northern India reached a record high this season, fuelling a toxic smog choking millions including in the capital New Delhi, government monitors said Tuesday. The northern state of Punjab - an agriculture hub often dubbed as "India's wheat bowl" - recorded 1,251 farm fires on Monday, according to the government-run Punjab Remote Sensing Centre. Tens of thousands of farmers around the capital in Punjab and Haryana states burn their crop residue at the start ... read more

FROTH AND BUBBLE
LIST and UNHCR partner to develop emergency early warning system

Senegal navy intercepts almost 1,000 illegal migrants in one month

Americans face an insurability crisis as climate change worsens disasters

Spain royals cheered in flood epicentre after chaotic trip

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Enormous potential for rare Earth elements found in US coal ash

Scientists show how a laser beam can cast a shadow

MIT engineers make converting CO2 into useful products more practical

British Museum secures record 1bn donation of Chinese ceramics

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Parts of Great Barrier Reef suffer highest coral mortality on record

How the Mediterranean lost 70% of its water during a prehistoric crisis

Taps run dry in sprawling suburb of Mauritania's capital

NASA data aids global efforts in combating sea level rise

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Political implications of Antarctic geoengineering debated

Space for Shore project tracks Svalbard glacier changes with Sentinel-1

Tajikistan lost 1,000 glaciers in 3 decades: minister

U.S., Finland and Canada agree to icebreaker collaboration pact

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Defiant Lebanese harvest olives in the shadow of war

Denmark's major parties agree carbon tax on livestock

Olive seeds from space mission begin growth in China

Planet expands partnership with Abelio for enhanced digital farming solutions

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Tropical storm Sara kills four in Honduras and Nicaragua

Burst dike leaves Filipino farmers under water

Magnitude 6.6 quake strikes off Papua New Guinea: USGS

Tropical Storm Sara pounds Honduras with heavy rain

FROTH AND BUBBLE
UK doubles aid to war-torn Sudan

World not listening to us, laments Kenyan climate scientist at COP29

Madagascar riverbank landslide hits boat, killing 16

French weapons in Sudan 'in violation of UN embargo': Amnesty

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Sitting for extended periods linked to higher cardiovascular risk even in physically active individuals

Iraq holds its first census in nearly 40 years

Swedish app aims to solve household chore disputes

Study shows ancient use of fire to manage Tasmania's environment 41,600 years ago

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.